Screwless doorknob



May 10, 1938. M. H. MORRELL. 2,116,707

SCREWLESS DOORKNOB Fil ed April 2'7, 1957 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l lnvenfor M.H. Mor relz A- V gmwmm. M 5m Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 1 Claim.

The object of my invention is to make a doorknob which cannot be jerkedapart or disassembled, while in use. It is a further objective of myinvention to make a knob, which can be locked in position without theuse of a screw, and that will remain firmly locked, when in use.

It is still a further objective of my invention to make a doorknob whichcannot be disassembled from the outer side of the door.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this inventionwill in part be described and in part be understood from the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiment, the same beingillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view of the spindle with the knobs attached thereto.

Figure 2 is an edge view of the spindle.

Figure 3 is a view looking toward the inner end of that knob which ispermanently connected with the spindle, with the spindle attached tosaid knob.

Figure 4 is a view looking toward the inner end of the opposite knob.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the locking plate.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the key or block.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the several views.

In these drawings the spindle is shown at 5 and said spindle has a holeadjacent one end through which passes the pin 6, after a sleeve 4 hasbeen placed on said end of the spindle, the said sleeve also having ahole therein through which the pin 6 passes. The knob 2, of porcelain orthe like, is then molded over the said end of the spindle, the outer endof the sleeve 4 and the pin so that the knob 2 and the sleeve 4 arepermanently connected with said end of the spindle.

A second sleeve 3 has a hole in its outer end for receiving a pin 6 andthe knob l is molded over the outer end of the sleeve 3 and over thepin, as shown in Figure 5. The other end of the spindle 5 fits in asocket l2 of the sleeve 3 and intermediate this end of the spindle aslot 1 is formed in each one of three edges of the spindle, the slotsbeing out of alignment as shown in Figure 2. The slot 1 shown in theupper edge of the spindle in Figure 2 is in an intermediate positionwith similar parts another slot on the forward edge of the spindle ofFigure 2 placed farthest from the left hand end of the spindle and witha third slot 1 in that side edge of the spindle of Figure 2 opposite theedge in view, is closest to said left hand end of the 5 spindle. Thespindle is placed in the socket I2 of the sleeve 3 in a position to haveone of the slots 1 in alignment with a hole II) in the sleeve 3 so thata rectangular-shaped block or key 8 can be passed into the hole In toengage the slot. 10 By having the three slots the knob l and sleeve 3can be adjusted on the spindle to suit different thicknesses of doors onwhich the knob assembly is used. A recess H is formed in the sleeve 3 atthe outer end of the hole In and is of larger 15 area than the hole. Therecess is formed with undercut end walls and a locking plate 9 isadapted to be placed in the recess to hold the key or block 8 inposition. This plate 9 is of spring metal and of substantially ovalshape with round- 20 ed ends to engage the undercut end walls of therecess and at one side it is formed with a concavity l3 for receiving apoint of an ice pick or other tool which is passed under the plate so asto bend the same to permit the ends of the plate to enter the undercutend walls of the recess. In placing the plate in position one end of theplate is placed in one undercut end wall and the ice pick is placedpartly under the central part of the plate and then the plate is bentover the ice pick so that its 30 other end can be pushed under theundercut wall at the other end of the recess. Then when the ice pick iswithdrawn the plate will straighten out so that its ends will firmlyengage the undercut end walls of the recess. As before stated this will35 lock the key 8 in position and thus firmly fasten the knob I and itssleeve 3 to the spindle. When it is desired to remove the knob assemblyan ice pick or the like is forced under the plate at the recess I3 so asto bend the same upwardly and 40 thus remove it out of the recess andthen the key 8 can be removed in any suitable manner, such as by turningthe knob assembly to place the hole In in which the key is located in aposition at the underside of the sleeve so that the key will drop out ofthe hole II) by gravity.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility and advantagesof this invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled in thisart with- 50 out a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been described inconsiderable detail merely for the purposes of exemplification since inactual practice it attains the features of advantage 55 enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

I claim:-

A doorknob assembly of the class described comprising a spindle, asleeve for receiving one end of the spindle, a pin passing through theouter end of the sleeve, a knob formed around the outer end of saidsleeve and the pin, said spindle having a slot in each of three edgesthereof in that part which enters the sleeve, said slots in said sleeve,and a spring locking plate for holding the block in the hole, said platehaving rounded ends and the sleeve having a recess surrounding the outerend of the hole having undercut end walls for receiving the rounded endsof the plate.

MELVIN HILL MORRELL.

